UNITED NATIONS
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia

Gode and Kalafo zones
Region 5 (Somali)

By Frederic Vigneau, UN-EUE Field Officer, 15 August,
1994

1. Food distribution

A general food distribution took place in Gode between 8-9 August, 1994.
Gode town and the camps with the dispesee population and returnees were
included in the distribution process. So far, this operation has been handled
by the Region 5 Relief and Rehabilitation Bureau (RRB).

The total number of beneficiaries was estimated at 64,831 people including
6,478 heads of families. The registration process was conducted over a
period of two days, carried out by 120 personeel supervised by the RRB.
In order to avoid any contradiction, the paperwork was handed over to the
EPRDF as soon as the registration was completed. (MSF Belgium latest census
of April 1994 indicates a total of 24,504 people in both camps as well
as 11,919 new arrivals who have re-settled in Gode town. The total
dispersee population is an estimated 36,423.

742 tons of wheat grain were allocated to Gode and its 5 zones. However,
only 731 tons have been received. Due to the high number of beneficiaries,
the ration for distributions was 5kgs/person/month instead of 15 kgs/person/month.

The estimated breakdown of food aid allocation in the area is:

325 tons to Gode (completed)

123 tons to the Kilil (stock balance of 6.9 tons)

283 tons to the zones (Kelafo, Ferfer, Imi, Denan and Mustahil)

The RRC in Gode has only four lorries available for the transportation
of food aid. In addition, the fuel supply to Gode is periodically poor,
and as fuel availability is limited, the price of fuel on the black market
may at times reach Birr 7.00 per litre. Therefore, it is impossible to
predict the exact time when relief food allocated to the zones in the peripfery
of Gode will be transported to its destinations.

2. Dismissal of the Region 5 officials in Gode

On Monday, 15 August, all the heads of departments and their deputies
from the 24 various governmental bureaux were officially suspended from
their positions. This action also applies to the RRB officials. According
to some unofficial discussions and different sources, the people of Gode
expect new nominations for all the vacated posts within the next week.

3. Security in Gode

Since the murder of the mayor of the town, Mr. Muktar Aden Gedden on
the 26 July, no other major incidents (i.e throwing of hand grenades in
public areas), have been reported or witnessed. Regarding this assassination,
it is still not clear who is responsible as no individual or groups have
been indicated.

Following reports from the elders of the Digeno Ber village regarding
unknown gunmen in this locality, the road between Gode and Kalafo was closed
for 4 days from Tuesday, 9 August, to Friday, 12 August to enable the EPRDF
to monitor and clear the area.

4. Refugees and returnees in Kalafo

As a consequence of the fighting in Belet Wein/Somalia, from mid-July
1994 an influx of people started to arrive daily at Kalafo until 28 July.
The majority of these people belong to the Hawadle family who fled
the Habre Gedir clan (SNA) and now control the town. This group,
on their way to Kalafo, had to avoid the Mustahil town which is also dominated
by the Habre Ghedir clan. Therefore, they are using a transit point,
for one or two nights, situated at 40 kms before Kalafo. This transit point
is a small village called Shibo and is located in a remote area far from
the main road and is currently not accessible due to the overflow of the
Wabi Shebelle river.

Due to the number of the new arrivals and the precipitation of their
movement, it is difficult to assess the number of returnees and refugees
among them. For the time being, they are settled in the proximity of Kalafo
town and at a distance of approximately 500 metres from the Wabi Shebelle
river. As of 15 August, the population occupied an area of around 6,000
square metres and were building small Somali huts that are large enough
to accomodate three people. The approximate number of people in this group
varies according to different sources.

The EPRDF in Kalafo have so far registered 1,400 new families and estimate
that the total population does not exceed 5,000 people. The Kalafo administration
supported by 10 individuals from within the camp are daily recording the
newcomers and have provided the following breakdown:

DATE

H.o.F

DEPENDENT

TOTAL

28/07

165

663

828

29/07

141

564

705

30/07

161

644

805

31/07

195

780

975

01/08

209

836

1,045

02/08

171

688

859

03/08

191

764

955

04/08

225

900

1,125

05/08

124

496

620

06/08

181

724

905

07/08

246

774

1,020

08/08

165

663

828

09/08

169

676

845

10/08

233

932

1,165

11/08

243

972

1,215

12/08

221

884

1,105

TOTAL

3,040

11,960

15,000

It is obvious that the administration's numbers are far from reality. According
to a discreet evaluation, a reasonable figure may be around 3,000 newcomers.
(To confirm this estimation, we could consider that at an average of 3
huts per 20 square metres provides adequate space for 1,350 huts in the
resettlement area of 6,000 square metres. Therefore, it may be assumed
that if each hut is occupied by 3 people, the number of hut dwellers would
be a population of 4,050 people.)

It should be noted that according to the EPRDF, almost the same amount
of people are in Shibo and are on their way to Kalafo.

For the moment, the nutritional status of the refugees and returnees
seems to be satisfactory. If the existing situation should last longer,
a proper nutritional survey and evaluation of the conditions of children
under 5 should be conducted. It has been observed that the majority of
the new arrivals are women and children.

5. Kalafo Health Unit

In Kalafo town, there is a health centre which was built three years
ago, with funding and equipment provided by the Austrian Government. This
centre covers the zones of Kalafo, Mustahil and Ferfer and is equipped
with one 4x4 vehicle.

Main diseases:
Children : Bronchopneumonia/Malaria/Diarrhea/Conjunctivitis Malnutrition
among babies (3 to 6 months)
Adults : Malaria/ Pneumonia/ Parasites/ Anaemia in pregnant women.
Only one case of Acute Diarhoeal Disease was reported two months ago from
Ferfer.

The cost of a visit for each patient at the OPD is Birr 1 by registration
card, including drug prescription. However, if the patient shows a letter
from the administration ensuring that his income is less than Birr 50 per
month, the visit and the treatment will be conducted free of charge.Birr
1,50/person/day for the INP.

Water is delivered from the town, and is stored in a watertank supplied
by an electric pump.

Disclaimer

The designations employed
and the presentation of material in this document do not imply the expression
of any opinion whatsoever of the UN concerning the legal status of any
country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning the
delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.